Fish scaling and cleaning machine.



No. 878,174. PATBNTED FEB. 4, 1908. G. P; YEAKEL. FISH SOALING ND CLEANING MACHINE. APPLIGATION 111.513 JULY 17, 1905. BENEWBD AUG. a, 1907.

7 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

hwentoz z No. 878,174 PATENTED PEB. 4, ma.

G. P. YBAKEL.

FISH SGALING AND CLEANING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1905. IIIINEWBD AUG. a. '1907.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908. J. EEAKBL B CLEANING MACHINE.

JAHN@ HSE AEPLIGATIOR' FILED JULY 17, 1905. RENEWED AUG. 8, 1907.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

smily 110. 070,174.l vPATENTE) m14, 1908.

y vG. P. YBAKBL.

FISH SGALING AND CLEANING MACHINE.

'APPLIOATION FILED JULY 17, 1005. nmmwBD-AUG. a, 1907.

7 SHEETS-s113111: e.

@Q4/@Mm 6.4

No. 8782174. PATENTEB FEB. 4,-'l908.'

G. P. YAEEL,

FISH SALNG AN@ APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, MD5,

' 50 Fig. 8, showing said clamp .when engaged by uNi-rEDfsrArEs-TATENE Erica.

GEORGE i. YEAKEL, or NoaRi'sTowN, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon 0E ONE-THIRD To I y CHARLES KELLER,

msn vscanned Vaim cLEANiNG MACHINE.

Y No. 878,174..-l 4

Application filed July-17| 1905. Serial No.

To all whom it may' concern: l

Be it known that l, GEORGE P. YEAKEL, a citizen of vthe United' States, residing at Norristown, in the county'of Montgomery A and State of Pennsylvania, have' invented new and useful Improvements in Fish Scaling and Cleaning Machines, of which the following is "a specification. y `j-'flviy invention relates toimprovement's in 10" what may be termed fish *'scalmgand clean- `.ing machines. j t

Objects .'of'theinvention are to provide,

as indicated, for "eectively lscaling the fish, and to thenv continuously perform the operationproper of cleaning the same, all in `an expeditous and satisfactory -rnanner, with the' resu t of delivering the fish from the niachinesCaled, freed of the entrails-and washed .or cleansed. v

20 Said invention consists of' certain features r or devices, and their combination and' arran ement substantially as hereinafter'fully disc osed and specifically pointed out byv thev claims. v

'i In the accompanying drawing illustrating v.the preferred embodiment of'my invention- Figure l is a plan view thereof. Fig. 2 is an inverted or bottoni view, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of tlie'machine.. Fig. 4 isa vertical 3'0 longitudinal section produced on the line -az of Fig. 1. Y. Fig. 5 is a like section taken on the line i/-y. Fig. 6 is a rear sectional elevation, .Fig 7 is a front elevation' of the forward end bearing-frames for the gearing 35 and shaft of the endless-belt equipped with the-`fisliconducting or feedingclamps, or

y carriers, and to which frames are secured'the guiding means for the fish. Fig. f8 is an enlarged detached crspective view of-a fish.-

40.clamp or carrier. `ig..9 is a detached view f inelevation of a shaft of one of the scaling devices. Fig. l0 is modification of such shaft, with a disassembled wire or strip and' a like connected wire or strip; Fig. -l'l is an enlarged detailed sectional. view with parts broken away showing the sli-ding orspline and'groove connection between certain shafts and pinions. Fig. 12 is a detailed side viewof the fish-carrying clamp as exemplified by its jaw-spreading,rolls-in effecting the release of thc fish. l f

.in the carrying out niy--ii'iventiom i pro- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

270.053. Renewed August' 1907.l Serial No. 387.667.

l other pulley is suitably vide a suitable receptacle 1 lwithin andfupoir OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

Patented Eet. e, 190s.

which is mounted or arranged the operative mechanism as will be now described.

Anunibei' of fish-carrying clamps or carriers 3 is connected to an endless belt or chain 2 encompassing sprocket pinions or pulleys 4, 4, the shaft/ib of one of which is suitably journaled in uprights 4C fixed in one end of the receptacle l. The clamps or carriers 3, referring particularly to Fig. 8', are composed each of two jaw-equipped members 3a, with 4their upstanding portions directly provided with the jaws 3a and their other or horizon- 'tal portions suitably fulcrumed or pivoted upon the upstanding or vertical arm Sbb of a right-angled belt-attaching member 3l.v The horizontal'arm 3X of. said member 3b is designed to bear upon the underside of the bars. or track 5 when-the fish is engaged by said jaws and .thus brace the same in position, while when the clamps or carriers have traveledlto an elevated position, as upon-theirreturn movement, vvthe armsv 3X will retain the clamps so as to be still inoperative position when the latter have returned 'to' again be supplied with fish. Therearend portions 3 of the jaw-equi'pjied members 3a are some- 80 what fiat and are held normally a suitable distance apart by a spring' 3d suitably held in position therebetween as shown, whereby by exertingv lateral pressure thereon so as to compress said spring the jaws 3am .maybe thrownapart or to open position as will be apparent presently, The shaft 4m) of the j carried or supported in the forward upwardly curved end-portions ,of vparallel longitudinal bars 5. These bars areconnected by nut-equipped bolts 4X- laterally to upward extending lugs 4d of horizontal arms A@ of the .standards or uprightsic and additional standards or uprights 4 likewise secured within the receptacle l. Said 4endless chain or belt 2l is held taut-or has its slack compensated by a sprocket wheel or pulley '6: carried or upheldv by upwardly eX- tending converging bars 7 suitablysecured at their divergent ends as at 7a to the'hori- 100 zontal arms 4e of opposite uprights or standards 40C.

Motion isdtransmitted to the endless belt or chain 2 bygneans `/f'tlie engaging sprocket wheel or pulley 4 whose shaft 41" extends lai.-

.l0 er-ally beyond theiecej'itaclel and is equipped with a pinion 8 gearing wrth a pinion S) secured upon a shaft l() to which is also fixed a -by an endless chain second pinion or sprocket pulley 14 driven or belt 15. The latter belt or chain engages, and is itself driven by a second sprocket pulley or wheel 16 upon whose shaft 16'UL is fixed anothei` lil-:e l'iulley or wheel 17 driven by an endless chain or belt 18 encompassing and receiving its niotion from a small sprocket wheel or pinion 19 fixed to a shaft 20 suitablyr supported or liournaled upon the underside of the receptacle 1l a pinion 2l en- Also fixed to the shaft 2() is gaged with a very much larger pinion or gem# wheel 22a whose shaft 22 is also suitably journaledupon the underside of the receptaclebottom. Said. pinion 221L 23 to engage a lateral end-lug 24 of a lever or dog 24 fulcrumed upon the underside of the receptacle-bottoni. Said lever 24 is also pivoted to, and carried by a upon, and controlled by the action of a preferably coiled or helical spring 26 the recoil action of which spring has the effect to respending scaling device.

turn the shaft 22 to its normal position after having been. moved endwise as in shifting the movement of the carrying frame of the corre- Said spring is also arranged uponsaid shaft, between said sleeve and one of two bars orarms 27, 28 or an extension thereof, Said arms or bars are integral with, or have lateral tubular extenvsions 27a, 28 respectively sleeved upon and.

Y `sald connectmg bolts 28" is eonnectel'l a wire 29, or like means, for suspei'iding and lowering the thus provided yielding saw or sawforming bearings for the shaft or mandrel 2t) of a circular fine-toothed saw BO suitably arranged yfor engaging and cutting the fish as Said ariiis 27, 28 each have the shaft 22 passing therethrough or extensions thereof, andare thus ada ted to be carried orsup ported therefrom, whi e the saw mandrel or shaft 2.() is carried by said arms. Said. arms have their tubular end portions preferably connected by screwbolts 28b to additional arms or bars 27% 2H. respectively, suitably supported upon or cai'- ried by the saw-mandrel 29, and to one of mandrel carrying frame, when required, when the saw is worn away by use. Said Isuspending wire or medium 2Q passes upward through an opening in the receptacleybottom and effectively held against displacement, and may be'adapted to provide for adjusting the saw carrying frame, with the saw, for accoininolating the latter to`the size of the fish to be cut. An endless clain or belt 31, for driving the fishcutting saw,

encompasses a small sprocl-:et wheel or pulley 32, fixed tothe saw-mandrel 2f), and a much larger similar wheel 33 fixed to the shaft 22 geared up with the driving source of power as above indicated.

Arranged adjacent to the-fsh-eutting saw, upon practically opposite sides thereof are '-,to serving as such for the has a lateral stud".

y sleeve or collar- 25 applied to the shaft 22 and cushioned parallel ul'n'igl'lt guide-rolls 34 preferably composed each of a coiled spring which may be tapered at its upper end, and having their central sustaining rods secured at the lower ends in downward bent or stepped plates or brackets 34a secured to the underside of the reeeptach fiottoim to ren'iove them out of the way, said. springs extending down tl'irougli openings in lsaid bottom. '.llhe upper ends of the sustaining rods of said guiderolls are suitably adapted to retain the corresponding ends of the latter in proper position. yThese spring guide-rolls, in addition fish to the saw, also by reason of their yielding or resiiient character accoined themselves te the variations in cross-section of the fish as the latter is fed or carried therebetiveen by the endless belt or chain, with. its clamps or carriers. ,/vilso arranged in proximity to the fish-cutting saw, as also to said guide-rolls, two in front of said guide-rolls and two in rearv of the latter and above the lineof said saw, are opposite pairs of divergent guide-plates 35 with their ends adjacent to'said rolls flared as at 35X to assist their guiding action and spaced far enough apart to perinit the` ready passage of the -fish therebetween to deliver said fish to said guide-rolls and to receive and guide the f'sh tl'ierefroin, respectively, Said guideplates are fixed in position to rigid arms or brackets 35 secured thereto and to the arms 4" of the intermediate standards or uprights 4"1' as shown, particularly by Fig. (i. Again, arranged just below the forward guide-plates 35 and l'iaving` its rear end standing close to the guide rolls 34 and somewhat narrowed or tapered toward each rear cornereedge to ei( tend well. into the entrance-space to the latter, is a dished or practicallyV-shaped guide 36. lt is held in an upraised 'position the greater' portion of its length in operative. relation to the overlianging or forward guideplates aforesaid by means of opstanding practically S-sliaped springs 36') secured to the receptacle-bottoin and resting igainst lugs or stops 36 upon said guide 36 said guide being curved or extended downward and forward and hinged or pivoted to the receptacle-bottoni as vat 36a. It will thus be seen that,as the fish is carried up, upon said guide 36, the latter will, in event the former should be of a greater size than could be otherwise accoinodated, accordingly yield Avertically and thus permit of the ready passage of the fish. A section of pipe or hose 37, suitably connected with a source or supply of water under pressure, lhas its discharge end ,lelivering a stream of water upwardand forward, through an opening in the receptacle-bottom, toward and so as to strike the interior of the fish as it is being cut or split by the saw, for cleansing or washing the same. Also, a preferably circular or cylindrie brushSS, arranged' ,and suitably supcrted in lposition close to the point of devery of t er'streamv of water upon the fish, serves to remove, as will be readily apparent, the entrails from the fish at this point.

IA' shaft 39, mounted in tlie.l"orward.end standards or uprights 4CA is equipped with a sprocket pinion 40 encompassed by a short endless chainorbelt 4lvalso engaging, and

V1 0 receiving motion fromtl'ie pinion 4 of the shaft' 4M. Said beveled pinions shaft 39 has fixed to it two 42 engaging or meshlng with corresponding pinions 43 fixed to the'shafts ofV lrolls 44 suitably j-ournaled` in said forwardend standards or uprights 4"" and are for the passage therebetween, and the throwing a art of the jaws of the fish-clamps or car riers 3 at that end of the machine to permit of the placing in between said jaws of the tails of the fish at thefbeginning ofthe scall ing and cleaning operation as will be presently more fully appreciated. i

`Scaling devices .45 are-,arranged upon'opposite sides of the-line of travel of the'iish carrying clamps orcarriers 3, one a short dis'- tance from the forward end of the receptacle --1 and the other farther rearward as shown for treating or acting. upon both sides cf the iishandat successivestages of the passage' 3o thereof;` These devices are composed each of a vertical'shaft 45"*V suitably held or journaled in a carrying fra'r'ne45D movabletrans versely within the receptacle Land of nuJ -merous practically ra 'al wires or Sealers proper 45c suitably connected to said shaft and practicallyV fectively detach the scales withoutmutilat ing the fish. Each of said wires or arms is, -,i n addition to its general radial arrangement, 'also reversely curved forthe more effective engagement therecf with thev fish, as is apparent. The arms or wires 45C have their inner ends, slipped downward into longitu-l dinal grooves 45zia in the carrying shaft 45a,

,'45 each'of said ends being bent as at 4'5"'C to the referred to, and lthe other carried by a shaftl 60. 47 Saidv shafts '242, 47 are intergeared, with -the driving shaft 20 by -means of intermeshing' gearlwheels v or pinions 48, 483,48, xed upon selighaftsr. respectively for im- -arting the requiteftation to the scalingevices. The scaling device carrying frames cf a pliable character to ef;

These arms or wires' 45b'have theirlower members arranged to move in frames vor guide-ways 49, 49Et fixed in slots producedin the receptacleebottom to permit the transverse movement of said frames with said scaling devices for a purpc se Apresently disclosed. The shaft 47, as in the case ofthe shaft 22 as previously described, is

4equipped` with a lever or ldog 50 the lattera sleeve or collar 50X and being pivoted upon 51 engaged by a stud 52a having. a lateral lug projecting laterallyl from a gear-wheel orz pinion 52 engagmg and receiving motion from the pinicn-l before described, gearing l with the .wheel or pinion 22d carrying the lstud 2 3 engaging or actuating the corref spending lugequipped leverordog 24. ult

will be understood that ,the shafts 22 and 47 vhave asliding connection with the pinionsfor gear 'wheels 22a and 52, as well as ,withlthepinions 48, this bein` :.provided for by spline and groove arrangement 53, 54 as ,shown more especially by Fig. 11., in order to permit of the 'shifting movementof said shafts together/ with thev scaling-device carrying frames. Also thatthe'shaft 47 isequipped' with a spring 47"l .to effect the automatic re turn -movement thereof to itsformer position after having been -nioved endwise, as in shifting the scaling-device? carrying vframe arranged in connection tlierewith.

Arranged intermediately of the forward end uprights' or standards 4C, or the point/of placing the fish u chain or belt ,2 an lthe point of delivery of the fish' tothe-guides' for conducting the on vthe endlessfeeding latter to the saw, is an additional suitable guide to hold'the sh in properi position for- K scaling. Said guide consists of a fixed board-like guide-se`ction 55; alike hinged orl pivoted guidessection 55 'at the forward end of the aforesaid section; a second similar fixed guide-section 55.* close` to the partb; and a second like hin ed-or pivoted guide# section 55"',.interpos ec between the afore-y saidgiixedv and hinged guideeections, all ar' ranged uponioneside. of the pathfcf travel (f .the fish-carryingclamps or carriers 8, and

of a number of guide Wire-sections or strands 55l secured to a'v post 55 at the forward end lof the receptacleand to ay pivoted guidesection vcontiguous lto the part 36, all arranged upon the opposite side of the .'-line of vtravel of saidrsh-carrying clampsor. car. mers. It will benoted, 1n this ccnnection,

that. a laterally-yielding action is provided "toenable'. said guide boardsections and Asaid guide W1re-strands or sections toyield m com orrnitywith the different thicknesses of the fish as the latter passes therebetween.

It Will be observed that, as a v[ish is presented taileend foremost, in position to be engaged-'by the'clarnps' 3, the normally heldapart rear-end portions of said clamps, will be engaged by, and be Yforced toward one another, by rolls'44, when said jaws will be rio of the scaling devices and the cutting action I of the saw, as also Athe cleaning or gntting action of the brush 38, and the cleansing aetion of the Water-thrown by pipe 37,. The

Afish, still being carried lorvvird,y the clamp.

rear-end portions are 'linaltyengageri by a similar pair .or set of rolls 56, at the extreme rear end olt the machine, for throwing apart the jaws and thus releasing the iish. lt will so be noted that, as the scaling-device-carrying frames are under the control ol' the aetion ol the gear-driving mechanism ot the fish-clamp carrying `belt as atoresa id and that said rnechanisrn'is so timed in its action that the studs 2b and 52 thereol' will be engaged by the lugs 251' and 5l ot the levers or dogs 24 and 5t), respectively when the lish-clamps have arrived nearly opposite the points where otherwise said scaling devices would strike said clamps, said sealing devices will be moved away trom, or out of the line ol travel ol` said clamps at that juncture, thus guarding against such contact between these parts. .By the use ol a. hand-lever 57 ESuitably Vpivoted in position and having a slotted and sleeved connection 58 with shaft 22and suitably lcoupled as at 57" with the shaft 47, the shitting ot' the scaling-il wiee carrying l'raines may be ellected by hand.

ln the modification as disclosed by Fig. l()l` a shat't 45X may be substituted lor. shalt- "'l, having a spiral groove 45; therein lor the reception ot the inner bent end-portions ofthe wires 45".

for impartingan intern'iittent lateral move-' ment when said clamps have arrived about opposite said scaling device, to prevent contact therelietween to said scaling-deviceearr yin g traine;

2. A machine of the character described, comprising -a traveling endlessbelt carrying a clamp havingr its jaw-equipped members fulcruined upon a right-angled support with one arm thereof effective to retain said A.clamp in operative relationto the 'Iish, and

means for setting said jaW-nienibers in open nositifm tor receiving or ,engaging thcftish .with said V[islne.ngaging clamps the horizonovaire the horizontal arm ci' portion of said support adapted to provide tor holding the support in operative position together with said cla-nip.

A machine ol the character described, comprising a traveling endless-belt, a clamp having its jaw-'members lulcrunied upon a `rigliti-angled support connected to said belt,

said jaw-members themselves being raotically right-angled in outline, with their jaws at the lower ends ol their vertical portions and their horizoi'ital portions held normally apart by an interposed spring, andineans for setting said jaws in open position, for en-V gagement with the lish the horizontal arm of said support adapted to hold said support in o] erative position together with said'clainp.' 4. A machine olt the character described, com prising a traveling endless-belt, a clamp having its rtw-equipped members fulcruined upon a rigid-angled support with one arm thereofv adapted to retain said clamp in oper` ative relation to the lish, means for setting said jaw-members in open-position for receiving or engaging the tish, and a scaling i' device arranged to operate in connection tal. arm olA saidsupport adapted to lioldftl'iel support in operative posit-ion, together with, said clamp, A machine ot" the character described, comprising a traveling endless-belt, a fish-i. engaging or carrying clamp a right-'angled support or bracket connected to said belt and having said clamp pivoted thereto, the. horizontal arm oi' the support adaptedto rie- 100 tain the latter in operative position together with said clamp, and a rotary saw arranged in thel path ot' the movement of the tish'yfor cutting or severing the latter.

(i. A machine of the claracter described, 10 comprising a traveling eiidless-belt,`.a fishcai'rying clamp a support lior said clamp connected to said belt and having 'a hori7l zontal arm adapted to retain the support in operative position together with' "said 11o clamp, means tor setting said clamp in openposition to receive the tish, a scaling,devicey: ,1` arranged l'or operation in connection ,vvith'fv said lish-carrying clamp andbelt,` a rotary saw arranged in the, line of the 4inovein'eiit 115 ot' the ish, and means effective torre-ope ing the `iaw-members ol said'claiiii'p at thef conclusion of the [ish-cleaningoperation i releasing the cleaned fish.

7. A machine ot the charactervdescribed .120

nished with reversely curved resilient wires 13o adapted to engage the Aclamp-carried fish, a rotary saw arranged in the path of the travel of said clamp, means for cleaning the clamp-carried fish arranged beyond and in alinement with said saw, and means effective to provide for cleansing the fish when acted upon by the latter.

`8. A machine of the character described, comprising a traveling endless-carrier, a fishcarrying clamp, a rotary saw arranged in the line of travel of said clamp, a verticallyyielding dished guide opposed directly forward of said saw, and divergent fixed guidemembers overhanging the aforesaid guide.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising a traveling endless-carrier, a fishcarrying clamp connected to said carrier, a scaling device arranO-ed alongside of the line of the travel of said -sh-carrying clamp, and a guide consisting of two sets of guide-sections or members, arranged upon opposite sides of said line of travel,'one set consisting of fixed and yielding members and the other set of a pivoted or swinging member and wire strands suitably strung in position.

l0. A machine of the character described, comprising a traveling endless carrier equipped with means for carrying a fish, a scaling device arranged to engage the fish carried by said clamp, with its carrying frame laterally movable with relation to said fishcarrying means, and actuating mechanismcfor said scaling device automatically effective to impart such lateral movement to said carrying frame.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a traveling endless-carrier equipped With means for carrying a fish, a

scaling d evice with its shaft-supporting frame movable laterally with relation to said fishcarrying means, and gear-mechanism for driving saidendless-carrier and said scaling device, with on'e of its pinions equipped vfith ugequipped lever or dog effective, with adjunctive parts, to impart such movement to said shaft-supporting frame.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising a traveling endless' carrier equipped with means for carrying a fish, scaling devices arran ed upon o posite sides of the line of trave of said iish-carrying means and having their carrying frames laterally movable with relation to said endless-carrier and fish-carrying means,` luvequipped levers or, dogs effective, With aldjunctive parts, to impart endwise movement to shafts `connected up with said scaling-device-carrying frames, and gear-mechanism for actuating said endless-carrier. and said scaling devices, with opposed intergeared pinions thereof provided with lateral studs adapted to engage the lugs ofisaid lug-v equipped levers or dogs.

o 13. A machine of the character described,

comprising a traveling endless carrier equipped with means for carrying a fish, opposed upright guide-rolls each constituted of a coiled spring, and Imeans for cutting or severing the fish as it is guided thereto from between said rolls.

In testimony whereof l afliX my signature, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

v GEORGE P. YEAKEL.- Witnesses:

. EUGENE D. EGBERT,

DAVID KRATZ. 

